Range control system

ABSTRACT

The invention comprises a single control knob for controlling both the bake burner and the broil burner of a range. When the bake burner is operational, a display is provided to so indicate. When the control knob is turned to its maximum operating condition, the bake burner is disconnected and the broil burner then becomes operational; and simultaneously, a display indication is provided to that effect. Should the operator desire to operate the broil burner at a reduced temperature, the control may then be turned to the reduced operating temperature. Should it once again be necessary of operate the bake burner, the control knob is turned to the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;off&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; position, whereupon, the knob may then be returned to a temperature whereby the bake burner will be operational.

United States Patent Grayson 541 RANGE CONTROL SYSTEM [72] Inventor:Richard Davis Grayson, Arcadia, Calif.

[73] Assignee: International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation, NewYork, N.Y.

[22] Filed: Dec. 23, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 101,064

' Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 738,460, June20, 1968.

[52] US. Cl ..1l6/133, ll6/l24,2l9/487 [51] Int. Cl. G09K 9/00 [58]Field ofSearch ..ll6/l24,133;2l9/487,398, 219/453, 506, 338/122 [56]References Cited UNITED STATES'PATENTS Droming ..1 16/133 51 Feb.15,1972

3,221,318 11/1965 Quirk 3,584,197 6/1971 Grayson ..2l9/487 PrimaryExaminer-Louis J. Capozi Attorney-C. Cornell Remsen, Jr., Walter J.Baum, Paul W. l-lemminger, Charles L. Johnson, Jr. and Thomas E. Kristofferson [57] ABSTRACT The invention comprises a single control knob forcontrolling both the bake burner and the broil burner of a range. Whenthe bake burner is operational, a display is provided to so indicate.When the control knob is turned to its maximum operating condition, thebake burner is disconnected and the broil burner then becomesoperational; and simultaneously, a

7 display indication is provided to that effect. Should the operatordesire to operate the broil burner at a reduced temperature, the controlmay then be turned to the reduced operating temperature. Should it onceagain be necessary of operate the bake burner, the control knob isturned to the off position, whereupon, the knob may then be returned toa temperature whereby the bake burner will be operational.

6 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEUFEB 15 I972 3.641.968

sum 1 OF 2 lnvenlor R. D. GRAYSON Attorney- PATENTEUFEB15 I972 3,641,968

' sum 2 or 2 F IG.3B

BROIL MODE AFER BROILSETTING56 AT REDUCED TEMP SETTI R. D. GRAYSON Horney BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In certain types of ranges, especiallythose of residential use,

it is desirable to include a pair'ofburner elements in the ovencompartment which are operated on a mutually exclusive basis. Theconventional oven arrangement contains a bake burner and a broil burnerwhich are located in different places in the oven. When the one burneris operational, the other burner is off. Heretofore, this kindof systemrequired a first control knob for controlling whether the bake burner orthe broil burner was in operation and a secondcontrol knob forcontrolling the temperature setting thereof. This duplication is, ofcourse, costly from both a material and labor standpoint as well asmaking extra demands on the mounting space on the range. Moreover, theoperator must viewbothcontrol knobs to determine which element is oneand at what temperature the element is operating.

In order to overcome the attendant disadvantages of prior art rangecontrol systems, the present invention provides a single control knobfor controlling both the selection of the burner element and thetemperature thereof. Further means are provided on said single controlknob to adequately display which element is operational and thetemperature setting of the operating burner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION More particularly, the invention comprises asingle control knob which when actuated, allows the bake burner tooperate and simultaneously display an indication that the bake burner isoperational. When the control is turned to its maximum operatingposition, the bake burner is disconnected and the broiler burner thenbecomes operational with an accompanying display indication of itsoperation. Should the operator desire to operate the broiler burner at areduced temperature other than maximum, the control knob may then beturned to the reduced operating temperature. Should it once again benecessary to operate the bake burner, the control knob is turned to theoff" position whereupon the knob may be then returned to a temperaturewhereby the bake bumerwill be operational.

The advantages of this invention, both as its construction and mode ofoperation, will be readily appreciated as the same and becomes betterunderstood by references to the following detailed description whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which likereference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures andwherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is an exploded view of therange control system of a preferred embodiment of the inventiompartly insection;

FIGS. 2A and 2B depict the relative positions of the dial and switchmembers, respectively, of the system in FIG. 1 when the system is in theoff position;

FIGS. 3A and 38, 4A and 4B, and 5A and 5B depict the relative positionsof the dial and switch members, respectively, of the system in FIG. 1when the system is in different operational modes; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the system in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, arange control system 10 is shown mounted on a range panel 12. The rangecontrol system comprises a thermostat shaft I4 which has a temperaturein- I mode, the shaft and knob dicating dial 16 mounted thereon which isvisible from the front of the system 10. The shaft 14 extends through ahollow housing member 18 and is directly connected to a conventionaloven thermostat switch 20 mounted in a housing 22. The hollow portion ofthe member 18 contains a switch actuator element 24 having a pair ofgrooves 26 and 28 for mating with a detent means 30 mounted in a hollow,cylindrical slot 32 in the member 18. A spring 34 biases the detentmeans 30 into contact with one of the grooves 26 or 28.

Referring now to FIG. 2A, the temperature indicating dial comprises atransparent plastic member having the various operational temperaturesof the burners from off to a maximum position of broil" indicated alongthe periphery thereof. Mounted on the thermostat shaft 14 in the centerof the dial is a control knob 36. The indicating dial further comprisesa first circular opaque region 38 whose purpose is merely asthetic and asemicircular opaque region 40 whose function will be explainedhereinafter.

Referring now to FIG. 2B, the interrelationship between the position ofthe shaft 14 and the switch actuator element 24 is depicted. Extendingoutwardly from the shaft is a trapezoidalshaped member 42 having a firstside edge 44 and a second side edge 46. The switch actuator element hasa hollow center with a trapezoidal-shaped member 48 extending into thehollow center and having a first side edge 52 and a second side edge 54.Rotation of the shaft 14 will cause edge 46 to abut edge 52 at one endof the rotation cycle and the edge 44 to abut edge 54 at the other endof the rotation cycle.

The outer' surface of the element 24 generally is circular with asemicircular ridge 56 extending from the top section thereof, upon whichare written the letters B-B-A-R-K-O-E-I- L which are used to denote theoperational mode of the oven as will be explained hereinafter.

A mode selector switch 60 is mounted within a U-shaped portion of thehousing member 18 and comprises a pair of flexible switch actuatorelements 62 and 64. At one end of the elements 62 and 64, there areterminals 66 and 68, respectively, for connection to the thermostatswitch. Lips 72 and 74 on the outer edge of the switch element 24 abutthe other end of the elements 62 and 64, respectively. A pair of baketenninals 76 and 78 and a pair of broil terminals 82 and 84 areconnected -to their respective elements through the thermostat switch20. Either pair of terminals 76 and 78 or 82 and 84 may contact one ofthe contact elements 62 and 64, respectively.

The housing member portion directly adjacent to the ridge 56 istransparent with six opaque-coated members 88 which are shown moreclearly in FIGSJSA, 4A and 5A. Each of the members 88 are a widthslightly greater than the letters on the ridge 56.

With the foregoing in mind, operation of the range control system is asfollows:

Prior'to use of the range, the dial l6 and shaft 14 are in the positionshown in FIGS. 2A and 28, respectively, with elements 62 and 64connected to terminals 76 and 78, respectively, and region 40 coveringthe lettering on ridge 56 and members 88. Should the operator wish touse the oven in the bake mode, shaft 14 is rotated in a counterclockwisedirection until the desired temperature indication on dial 16 isopposite an indicator arrow 90 mounted on the range panel 12 as shown inFIG. 3A.

In this position, the dial 16 has been rotated sufficiently so thatmember 40 no longer covers the members 88 or the lettering on ridge 56.However, the alternate-spaced members 88 cover the letters B-R-O-I-L onridge 56, exposing the letters B- A-K-E, thus indicating to the operatorthat the oven is in the bake mode of operation.

Should the operator desire to use the oven in the broil are rotateduntil edge 44 abuts edge 54. Further counterclockwise rotation of theshaft 14 causes element 24 to rotate slightly counterclockwise untildetent means 30 is secured in groove 26, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 33.Further, lips 72 and 74 bend elements 62 and 64, respectively, so thatelements 62 and 64 are now in contact with elements 82 and 84,respectively, thus, deactivating the bake burner and activating thebroil burner. As can be seen from FIGS. 3A and 3B, rotation of the shaft14 and dial 16 to the broil" position and the attendant movement of theelement 24 causes ridge 56 to move a distance equal to one of theletters thereon, and the letters B-R-O-l-L now are displayed between themembers 88. lt should be understood that when the broil mode isactuated, the resultant heat is the maximum possible. However, should itbe desired to operate the broil mode at a reduced 'temperature,.theshaft 14 is rotated in a clockwise direction until the desiredtemperature is reached, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. Should it bedesired to operate the temperature once again in the bake mode, it isnecessary to turn the shaft 14 clockwise until the indicator is at theoff position, whereupon detent means 30 is returned to groove 28 and theelements 62 and 64 are once again in contact with terminals 76 and 78.Rotation of the shaft 14 in a counterclockwise direction will once againoperate the bake burner.

F IG; 6 depicts a simplified schematic of the operation of the oven.With the oven in the bake mode, elements 62 and 64 connect the bakeburner, through the terminals 76 and 78, to the thermostat switch 20. Asis conventional, in order to maintain the oven at the desiredtemperature, thermostat switch 20 periodically is opened and closed.Further, when the broil burner is operational, elements 62 and 64contact the broiler burner through the thermostat switch.

The term interlock and the phrase stable state are hereby defined asrelating at least to apparatus which has only a plurality of statesofconduction such as a flip-flop, as opposed to some other physical ormechanical state or mechanical position state. I

The term "interlock" and the phrase stable state are also hereby definedas relating to systems of the type disclosed herein, to anyelectromechanical or other system, or to any purely mechanical or purelyelectrical system or otherwise.

The term interlock" and the phrase stable state are also hereby definedto relate to a mechanical structure having two stable positions. I Theterm switch is hereby defined to include, but not be limited to, a pairof relay contacts or a switch having one or more contacts or, nocontacts such as an electronic switch.

The phrase fdevice actuable to provide heat" is hereby defined toinclude, but not be limited to, an electric heating element or both agas burner and a valve, or otherwise.

The phrase coupling means" is hereby defined to include, but not to belimited to, solely electrical coupling means, solely mechanical couplingmeans, electromechanical coupling means, and one or more valves orvalves in combination with any of the said electrical, mechanical orelectromechanical coupling means.

The phrase connection means" is hereby defined to include, but not to belimited to, switches, other conductive apparatus, semiconductors, gatesor otherwise.

In FIG. 1, note will be taken that the order of letters are in thefollowing sequence: BBARKOEIL, there being no substantial space betweenany two adjacent letters except the letters I and L, one blank letterspace being provided between the letters l and L. This first set ofletters is provided on ridge 56.

Although one set of letters are shown in the ridge 56, a second set inFIG. 1, alternative thereto, which will work is BBRAOKlEL. In this case,there is no substantial space between any two adjacent letters. However,there is a blank letter space after the letter L.

The second set of letters just given is required whenever a reversal isdesired or necessary. For example, thermostat shaft 14 may have aleft-hand screw thread to cause the thermostat temperature setting toincrease. If the screw thread of shaft 14 is made a right-hand screwthread, and everything else is the same, the thermostat temperaturesetting may be increased by rotating shaft 14 to the right. Dial 16 thenmust be changed so that the off position is the same, but the newright-hand half is the mirror image of the old left-hand half.Similarly, the new left-hand half must thus be the mirror image of theold righthand half.

As can readily be seen, the system may be designed to operation ofeither a gas or electric range where two burners are not operatedsimultaneously. Further, the system allows either burner to be operatedthrough a continuous range of temperatures with the burner modedisplayed. Moreover, a single control knob is utilized on the rangepanel which minimizes the number of controls.

It should be further understood that the foregoing disclosure relatesonly to preferred embodiments of the invention, and that it is intendedto cover all changes and modifications of the examples of the inventionherein chosen for the purpose of the disclosure which do not constitutedepartures from the spirit and scope of the invention. I

What is claimed is:

1. An indicator comprising: a base; a first member having first andsecond sets of letters thereon, said first set including the letters B,R, O, l and L, said second set including the letters B, A, K and E, saidletters B, A, K and E being positioned on said first member contiguousto the said letters B, R, O and l, respectively; a second member havinga construction to mask all of the letters in both of said sets, but notall at one time, said second member having a construction so as to maskall of the letters of said first set without masking any of the lettersof said second set and vice versa, said second member being opaqueexcept for certain aperture means therethrough, said aperture meansalways masking at least five alternate ones of the letter spaces;mechanical means to'move one of said members back and forth between twopositions relative to said base and in directions along a line, all ofsaid letters being aligned in succession along said line; and means tomount said one of said members movably relative to said base, the otherof said members being fixed relative to said base, said aperture meansincluding five spaced apertures located on approximately the same saidline, each aperture having a width equal to the width one letter spaceand beingat least as large as one letter in height, each saidaperturebeing spaced from each aperture adjacent thereto a distanceapproximately equal to one letter space width, said two positions beingspaced apart one letter space, said letters being arranged in a seriesin the order B, B, A, R, K, O, E, I and L, no substantial space beingprovided between the letters except the letters I and L, one blankletter space being provided between the letters I and L.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, including means to stop saidmechanical means at each of said two positions, said mechanical meansincluding a manually operable and rotatable control knob, said series ofletters being located on an approximately horizontal arc of a circleconcentric with the rotational axis of said knob, and means to mountsaid knob rotatably relative to said base, said line being said are.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1, including opaque means to maskall five of said apertures simultaneously, said opaque means beingmounted on said base in a position to move to a position which does notobstruct the view of any of said letters which lie in registration withsaid apertures.

4. An indicator comprising: a base; a first member having first andsecond sets of letters thereon, said first set including the lettersB,R, O, l and L, said second set including the letters B, A, K and E,said letters B, A, K and E being positioned on said first membercontiguous to the said letters B, R, O and l, respectively; a secondmember having a construction to mask all of the letters in both of saidsets, but not all at one time, said second member having a constructionso as to mask all of the letters of said first set without masking anyof the letters of said second set and vice versa, said second memberbeing opaque except for certain aperture means therethrough, saidaperture means always masking at least five alternate ones of the letterspaces, mechanical means to move one of said members back and forthbetween two positions relative to said base and in directions along aline, all of said letters being aligned in succession along said line;and means to mount said one of said members movably relative to saidbase, the other one letter space width, said two of said members beingfixed relative to said base, said aperture means including five spacedapertures located on approximately the same said line; each aperturehaving a width equal to the width one letter space and being at least aslarge as one letter in height, each said apertures being spaced fromeach aperture adjacent thereto a distance approximately equal topositions being spaced apart one letter space, said letters beingarranged in a series in the order B, B, R, A, O, K, I, E and L, nosubstantial space being provided between any of the letters, one blankletter space being provided after the letter L.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4, including means to stop saidmechanical means at each of said two positions, said mechanical meansincluding a manually operable and rotatable control knob, said series ofletters being located on an approximately horizontal arc of a circleconcentric with the rotational axis of said knob, and means to mountsaid knob rotatably relative to said base, said line being said arc.

6. The invention as defined in claim 4, including opaque means to maskall five of said apertures simultaneously, said opaque means beingmounted on said base in a position to move to a position which does notobstruct the view of any of said letters which lie in registration withsaid apertures.

1. An indicator comprising: a base; a first member having first andsecond sets of letters thereon, said first set including the letters B,R, O, I and L, said second set including the letters B, A, K and E, saidletters B, A, K and E being positioned on said first member contiguousto the said letters B, R, O and I, respectively; a second member havinga construction to mask all of the letters in both of said sets, but notall at one time, said second member having a construction so as to maskall of the letters of said first set without masking any of the lettersof said second set and vice versa, said second member being opaqueexcept for certain aperture means therethrough, said aperture meansalways masking at least five alternate ones of the letter spaces;mechanical means to move one of said members back and forth between twopositions relative to said base and in directions along a line, all ofsaid letters being aligned in succession along said line; and means tomount said one of said members movably relative to said base, the otherof said members being fixed relative to said base, said aperture meansincluding five spaced apertures located on approximately the same saidline, each aperture having a width equal to the width one letter spaceand being at least as large as one letter in height, each said apertuRebeing spaced from each aperture adjacent thereto a distanceapproximately equal to one letter space width, said two positions beingspaced apart one letter space, said letters being arranged in a seriesin the order B, B, A, R, K, O, E, I and L, no substantial space beingprovided between the letters except the letters I and L, one blankletter space being provided between the letters I and L.
 2. Theinvention as defined in claim 1, including means to stop said mechanicalmeans at each of said two positions, said mechanical means including amanually operable and rotatable control knob, said series of lettersbeing located on an approximately horizontal arc of a circle concentricwith the rotational axis of said knob, and means to mount said knobrotatably relative to said base, said line being said arc.
 3. Theinvention as defined in claim 1, including opaque means to mask all fiveof said apertures simultaneously, said opaque means being mounted onsaid base in a position to move to a position which does not obstructthe view of any of said letters which lie in registration with saidapertures.
 4. An indicator comprising: a base; a first member havingfirst and second sets of letters thereon, said first set including theletters B, R, O, I and L, said second set including the letters B, A, Kand E, said letters B, A, K and E being positioned on said first membercontiguous to the said letters B, R, O and I, respectively; a secondmember having a construction to mask all of the letters in both of saidsets, but not all at one time, said second member having a constructionso as to mask all of the letters of said first set without masking anyof the letters of said second set and vice versa, said second memberbeing opaque except for certain aperture means therethrough, saidaperture means always masking at least five alternate ones of the letterspaces, mechanical means to move one of said members back and forthbetween two positions relative to said base and in directions along aline, all of said letters being aligned in succession along said line;and means to mount said one of said members movably relative to saidbase, the other of said members being fixed relative to said base, saidaperture means including five spaced apertures located on approximatelythe same said line; each aperture having a width equal to the width oneletter space and being at least as large as one letter in height, eachsaid apertures being spaced from each aperture adjacent thereto adistance approximately equal to one letter space width, said twopositions being spaced apart one letter space, said letters beingarranged in a series in the order B, B, R, A, O, K, I, E and L, nosubstantial space being provided between any of the letters, one blankletter space being provided after the letter L.
 5. The invention asdefined in claim 4, including means to stop said mechanical means ateach of said two positions, said mechanical means including a manuallyoperable and rotatable control knob, said series of letters beinglocated on an approximately horizontal arc of a circle concentric withthe rotational axis of said knob, and means to mount said knob rotatablyrelative to said base, said line being said arc.
 6. The invention asdefined in claim 4, including opaque means to mask all five of saidapertures simultaneously, said opaque means being mounted on said basein a position to move to a position which does not obstruct the view ofany of said letters which lie in registration with said apertures.